Lot 158: E. W. Thomson , 1770-1847 Portrait of The Hon. Charlotte Stuart, later Viscountess Canning (1817-1861); with a Portrait of The Hon. Louisa Stuart, later Marchioness of Waterford (1818-1891) each watercolour over pencil, in original gilt-wood frames

the second signed l.r.: E.W. Thomson delt 45 Rue St. Anne Paris / 1822 each watercolour over pencil, in original gilt-wood frames Quantity: 2

each 15.6 by 13 cm.; 6 1/4 by 5 1/8 in.

PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
This pair of portraits shows the two daughters of Lord Charles and Lady Elizabeth Stuart de Rothesey. Lord Charles was ambassador to France between 1815 and 1824 and both girls were born at the British Embassy in Paris. The watercolours were drawn in 1822 when Charlotte and Louisa were five and four years old respectively. They both grew up to have full and interesting lives.

Charlotte married Charles Canning, later Earl Canning (1812-1862), who was the youngest but only surviving son of the prime-minister George Canning (1770-1827). In 1842 she became Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria and was a great favourite at Court. When her husband was made Governor-General of India in 1855 she supported him through a difficult period, which included the Indian Mutiny of 1857. She died of 'jungle fever' at Calcutta in November 1861.

Louisa meanwhile, was celebrated for her beauty and in 1842 she married Henry de La-Poer Beresford, 3υrd Marquis of Waterford (1811-1859). They lived at Lord Waterford's seat Curraghmore, in County Waterford until his untimely death, as a result of a hunting accident, in 1859. Following this Louisa lived at Ford Castle in Northumberland and Highcliffe Castle in Hampshire until her death, at the age of 73, in 1891. The two sisters sat to many artists throughout their lives, including Franz Xavier Winterhalter and Sir William Ross. There is also a double portrait of them, painted by Sir George Hayter in 1820, which was sold in these Rooms 20υth June 2005, lot 96.